They kissed, side by side, for long minutes. Maura threaded her fingers in the dark curls of Jane's hair, pulling her in gently, as her lips explored Jane's for the first time. Her lips were soft and warm, parted just enough to allow her to nip at them. She didn't dare push in further, afraid Jane would pull back. Her growing desire was betrayed by her body when her hips tilted forward, seeking more contact with Jane's long frame. Rocking slowly back and forth, she wedged her leg between Jane's knees, and felt the brunette press forward against her.
Maura's hand roamed along Jane's arm and grasped at her waist, following the curve of her hip over the thin fabric of the night shirt. She felt Jane shiver under her touch, and her hips started rocking in unison with her own.
The sound of their heavy breathing and wet kisses filled the dark bedroom.
Maura slowly eased Jane onto her back, settling on top of her. She kissed a trail along her jaw, down into her neck. Jane gasped when Maura opened her mouth and pressed her tongue and lips to her pulse point. The noblewoman sucked on Jane's neck, tasting the soft skin, craving for more. She licked back up behind her ear, leaving Jane panting through her open mouth. Maura wished they had left the light on, so she could see Jane, look into her eyes, see what she was doing to her.
Jane's eyes were shut, and she was gasping for air as Maura was kissing her neck. Her body was on fire, her hands wandering over Maura's back and hips, pulling her closer. Her hips were tilted up into the blonde, desperately seeking more contact. The vague unease she had felt when Maura had first kissed her had quickly evaporated, and she realized this was how it should feel, to be in love. They were about to make love. She opened her eyes briefly at the thought. Maura's face hovered above hers in the dark, her features outlined in the pale moonlight. Jane swallowed hard and guided Maura with her as she sat up with the blonde straddling her lap.
They quietly reveled in the embrace, their faces almost touching, their breath mingling between them.
Then Jane grabbed the bottom of Maura's nightshirt and pulled it up slowly. Maura shifted her weight to loosen it up and raised her arms as Jane slipped the garment off over her head. Maura helped Jane with hers, and they wrapped their arms around each other again, basking in the feeling of their warm, bare skin touching.
Without breaking the embrace, Jane laid down on her back again.
"Show me...", she rasped, ready but shy.
Maura smiled in the dark. "I love your voice. It's is so... sensual..."
She dipped down and covered her chest and neck with kisses again, inhaling Jane's fragrant skin, so warm and soft under her lips. She trailed back up and kissed Jane's lips, using the tip of her tongue to tease them apart. The brunette finally opened her mouth and granted her access, her tongue meeting Maura's for the first time. Jane moaned at the wet contact, slowly pushing in further in a languid dance. She brought a hand up to the back of Maura's head and pulled her in to deepen the kiss, her whole body tilting up into her.
Jane felt a burning surge in her core, a need she had never felt before. She groaned in frustration, aching to be touched.
Sensing Jane's need, Maura pushed Jane's legs apart with a firm hand. She trailed her fingers along the curve of a hip, dipping down to her inner thigh at a tortuously slow pace. To make up for it, she lowered her head and covered Jane's nipple with her mouth, sucking gently on the hard nub. Jane groaned in pleasure and fisted her hand in her hair. Maura switched to the other breast, as her hand inched closer to its goal between Jane's parted thighs.
Jane's mouth had fallen open, but she had stopped breathing in anticipation. Her mind was split between Maura's mouth on her nipples and the progress of her hand towards her sex. Both were electrifying, but she suspected there was more to come. Her flesh prickled with need, and she couldn't help but bob her hips up and down against Maura's hand, begging silently for relief.
Jane started panting when she felt Maura on her curls. She bit her lower lip and held on tightly to Maura. Deft fingers ran along her drenched slit, parting her nether lips. Flat and straight along her folds, they swirled around in slow circles, eliciting jolts of pleasure every time they grazed over her clit.
Jane moaned helplessly, the pleasure creeping up her stomach, into her throat as Maura intensified the pressure.
"Oh Maura, Maura,... Maura... oh my god..."
Maura bit down on her neck and sucked with her tongue and lips, breathing hard through her nose, her eyes squeezed shut in empathy with Jane's pleasure. She felt around Jane's opening, making sure she was ready and open, and slowly pushed two fingers inside and up.
They both stopped moving. They held their breath for a few seconds, Jane's hips tilted impossibly high, taking in the blissful sensation of Maura's fingers inside of her, filling her up.
Maura started moving her fingers in and out, slowly at first, adding a third one in time. She went down for a deep kiss, swallowing Jane's urgent whimpers in her mouth. She started using her hips against Jane, thrusting faster and harder, pushing Jane closer and closer to the edge. Jane spread her legs wider, thrusting in counterpoint.
Urgent moans poured out into the room, the bed frame creaking in rhythm to their love making.
Maura suddenly shifted to straddle Jane's thigh. She frantically gasped at Jane's hand and pushed it against her core.
"Jane, please... Touch me, I need you. I want to feel you inside..."
Barely thinking, Jane slipped three fingers inside Maura's opening, and she grunted in delight at the warm, velvety texture. Maura lowered herself down on her thigh, trapping Jane's fingers inside, and resumed her thrusts, driving them both towards an impending orgasm.
"Oh Jane, you feel so good..." Maura felt herself rapidly coming undone.
Jane felt a surge radiating from her core, but was hesitant to give in. As much as her body craved it, the intensity scared her.
"Maura," she panted, "Maura... It's too much..." Her voice cracked and she took a deep breath as tears welled up in her eyes.
"Oh Jane, come with me... Let go. Come with me..." Maura's body tensed up and her voice dropped to a whisper. "Oh Jane, I love you..."
Jane heart clenched hard at Maura's words, and she closed her eyes, sending a tear rolling down her cheek into her ear. She relaxed and the orgasm immediately reared up, emanating from her core and exploding into a million stars behind her eyelids. Her body seized up and she cried out, unable to stop the whimpers from escaping her mouth. She could hear Maura's cries echoing hers as she rode every aftershock.
Maura slowly slumped down on top of Jane, their sweat mingling and cooling down after the storm. Maura planted lazy kisses on Jane's lips, nuzzling her cheeks and wiping her tears. Jane wrapped her arms around her and pulled her into a fierce embrace. She started crying again at the thought of having to leave.
"Oh Maura, I love you... I love you so much... I'll come back. I promise."
Maura's tears mixed up with hers as the noblewoman nodded against her cheek. They cried for a while, consoling each other with soft kisses and murmurs of love. Maura rolled off to the side, still enveloped in Jane's arms. They slept on and off, their anxious slumber interrupted by bursts of desperate kissing and lovemaking, followed by more crying.
A pale, cloudy morning cast its dim light into the room, revealing their red and tired eyes.
Jane packed up while Maura tended to her morning routine with the staff. George had a ticket for New York waiting for her at the breakfast table. They ate in silence, stolen glances conjuring fresh tears in they eyes.
Maura said her goodbyes by the carriage in front of the mansion. She couldn't bear to ride with Jane to the train station, and Jane wouldn't let her. Flanked by George and Mary, Jane didn't dare kiss Maura in front of them, but pulled her in a fierce hug instead. She managed to hold her tears back and turned to George.
"May I ride up front with you?"
George nodded. "Certainly, Miss Rizzoli."
She looked back at the noblewoman, detailing her every feature, committing her face to memory until she'd get to see her again. She saw Maura's eyes brimming with tears and had to look away. She took George's hand and he hoisted her up. Without looking back, she held on to her seat as the carriage took off.
Jane filled her eyes with London as they rode through the city. She had only spent a total of four days in the British capital, but she felt privileged to have had the chance to experience it in such a different light than most visitors. She promised herself she'd be back as soon as she could. The thought of Maura made her sigh.
"I've never seen Lady Isles so smitten with anyone before."
Jane turned to George. She didn't quite know how to answer. She let him continue.
"She's been alone her whole life. When Annie passed, I thought she'd die of grief. But she's strong. Much stronger than anyone I know."
Jane nodded.
"She never expects much from anyone, but I hope you come back. For her."
Jane wiped off her cheek and nodded again. She was amazed she still had tears left in her.
"I'll come back. I promised her."
George stopped in front of the train station and carried her suitcase to her wagon. Jane realized all her tickets were in first class. She smiled to herself. She hugged a reluctant George before he could leave.
"Thank you..." She whispered to him.
George hugged her back. "You're welcome, Miss Rizzoli. I'm looking forward to your return."
"Me too."
Later that day, upon boarding the ship, Jane opened her suitcase and had a moment of panic when she didn't recognize the contents. She lifted the brand new wool coat up in front of her. It was close in color to her old one, but that's where the comparison ended. This one was lined in silk, the fine wool sewn in a perfect cut, not masculine but not too feminine either. The buttons were elegant but discreet. One of the pockets had a small bulge and she reached inside. She pulled out a thin cotton handkerchief with the initials M.I. embroidered in the corner. Jane brought it to her face and inhaled its scent.
The fog horn drowned the sound of her sobs as the ship commenced its six days journey to New York.